Page 18 - Encyclopedia of Chemical Compounds 3 Vols

Reader’sGuide

acetone. Solubility is an important property because most
chemical reactions occur only when the reactants (the sub-
stances reacting with each other) are dissolved. The most
common solvent for inorganic compounds is water. The most
common solvents for organic compounds are the so-called
organic solvents, which include alcohol, ether, acetone, and
benzene. The solubility section in the entry for each com-
pound lists the solvents in which it will dissolve well (listed
as ‘‘soluble’’), to a slight extent (‘‘slightly soluble’’), or not at
all (‘‘insoluble’’).
Overview: The overview provides a general introduc-
tion to the compound, with a pronunciation of its name, a
brief history of its discovery and/or use, and other general
information.
How It Is Made: This section explains how the compound
is extracted from the earth or from natural materials and/or
how it is made synthetically (artificially). Some production
methods are difficult to describe because they include reac-
tants (beginning compounds) with difficult chemical names
not familiar to most people with little or no background in
chemistry. Readers with a special interest in the synthesis
(artificial production) of these compounds should consult
their local librarian or a chemistry teacher at a local high
school or college for references that contain more informa-
tion on the process in question. The For Further Information
section may also contain this information.
Interesting Facts This section contains facts and tidbits
of information about compounds that may not be essential to
a chemist, an inventor, or some other scientific specialist,
but may be of interest to the general reader.

Common Uses and Potential Hazards Chemical com-
z
pounds are often of greatest interest because of the way they
can be used in medicine, industry, or some other practical
application. This section lists the most important uses of
each compound described in the book.
All chemical compounds pose some risk to humans. One
might think that water, sugar, and salt are the safest com-
pounds in the world. But, of course, one can drown in water,
become seriously overweight by eating too much sugar, and
develop heart problems by using too much salt. The risk
posed by a chemical compound really depends on a number
of factors, one of the most important of which is the amount

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